Ground-drying-out system.



A. M. BRANCH GROUND DRYING OUT SYSTEM 9o. 1 9 1 L 2 H. a vd d nu IJ n nu ru a D.. 2. l 9 1 5I 2 R. A M D E L I F N O I T A 0 I L P P A 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

iva/f A. M. BRANCH.

GROUND DRYING OUT SYSTEM.

' 5, 1912. 1,050,914. Patented @11.21, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ggg/NN" v ARTHUR M. BRANCH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GROUND-DRYING-OUT SYSTEM.

Application filed March 25, 1912.

To alla-hom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. BRANCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, havel invented a certain new and useful Ground- Drying-Out System Especially Adapted for Drying Outl Athletic Fields and the Like. of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forining a part hereof.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful ground drying-out system, especially adapted for use in connection with base-ball fields and the like.

While I have shown in the drawings and will describe my new ground drying-out system in connection with and as applied to a base-ball field and diamond, and for which use it is especially adapted and designed, it will be understood that my new system may be readily adapted to, and installed and equally well used in connection with, other athletic fields where athletic games and outdoor sports are played, as, for instance, football fields, tennis courts, and the like.

Asis well known, base-ball fields, and especially the diamond portion or infield thereof, ordinarily become, after a more or less heavy rain, so soft and wet that it is practically impossible to play ball thereupon, and consequent-ly ball games have been heretofore frequently postponed on account. of wet grounds resulting in considerable financial loss to the owners or proprietors of such fields.

To keep or maintain the field in proper condition for playing ball thereupon at practically all times has, therefore, been greatly desired; and the object of my invention is, broadly, to provide a system for rapidly and effectively drying-out the playing area and particularly those portions of a base-ball field which are usually skinned or devoid of grassA and which are more or less constantly occupied and traversed by the base-runners, inielders, pitcher, and catcher in order to obviate the necessity of having to postpone scheduled games by reason of wet grounds resulting from rains immediately preceding such games. and which system will, at the same time, in no way injure the grass covered portions of the field.

ith this object in view, my invention resides in the provision a short distance below the surface of the ground upon which- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

Serial No. 685,987.

the diamond or infield is located, of series of heating pipes adapted to comparatively quickly evaporate and drive the moisture from the surface of the ground and thereby render the same fit to be played upon; in'

of my new system and in the novel arrangef ment and combination of the same, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a base-ball field showing my improved ground drying-out system in connection therewith or as applied thereto: Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approXimately on the line 2 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4, Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the series of pipes comprised in my system. v

In Fig. 1, the stipple shading represents the grassed portions of the diamond and field; the light dash lines represent the series of heating pipes; the heavy dash lines represent the heating headers or manifolds; and the heavy dot and dash lines represent the water or moisture distributing pipes.

In preparing the field for the installation of my improved system, the ground of the diamond and infield is removed to a suitable depth, preferably about thirty inches, and in this excavated portion is placed a bed 1 of suitable preferably refractory material, such as cinders, burned fire-clay, or

broken brick, and which bed is preferably over, thereby filling in the said excavated portion of the field. Now, on all ball fields, the infield comprises grass covered portions and skinned or devoid-of-grass portions, the skinned portions of the field being what are known as the base lines or paths, the catchers box, the pitchers box, a strip or path between catchers and pitchers box, and a considerable area of the infield immediately to the rear of the base-lines or paths between first, second, and third base. Briefly7 the stipple-shaded part of the diamond, shown in Fig. 1, indicates the grass covered portion thereof and the unstippleshaded part indicates the skinned or devoid-of-grass portion thereof.

In the arrangement as shown, a main steam supply pipe 2 communicates with a suitable source of steam supply .and extends or leads therefrom along a line from first to second base to a point somewhat to t-he rear of the latter; and leading or extending laterally from this main pipe 2 beneath that part of the skinned portion of the field to the rear of iirst and second bases, is a series of pipes 3. These pipes 3 are preferably parallel and at their ends are connected to a suitable circulating-pipe t, the ends of which are preferably provided with suitable air outlet valves lu. Also leading and extending from pipe 2 along the line from second to third base and toa point beyond the latter, is a branch supply pipe 5, from which pipe 5 a series of parallel pipes G extend laterally beneath that part of the skinned portion of the diamond to the rear of the base-line between second and third base. These pipes 6 at their outer ends are connected to a suitable circulating pipe 7, the ends of which are preferably provided with suitable air out-let valves 7a. Communicating also with` said source of steam supply and preferably parallel with said pipe 2, is a niain supply pipe 8 which extends to a point within the diamond, preferably adjacent second base. Connected to and leading from this pipe 8 across the diamond, is a series of laterally extending parallel heating pipes 9, the outer ends of which are connected to a suitable circulating pipe 10. Said pipe 10 is preferably parallel with and closely adjacent the line between third base and home plate and at its ends is preferably provided with suitable air outlet valves 10a.

Communicating with a suitable source of water supply and leading therefrom into the diamond at a point preferably near or adjacent third base, is a water supply pipe 11. Communicating with said pipe 11 and suitably arranged within the diamond preferably adjacent the line between second and third base, is a distributing main 12, of porous tile or the like. Connected to and leading from this main 12 across the diamond and to a point preferably beyond the path or line between home-plate andtirstbase, is a series of parallel distributing pipes 13, also preferably of porous tile or the like. The outer ends of these pipes 13 aie connected to a header or main 14, leading to a sewer or other place of discharge. The water pipes 12, 13, and 141 are preferably laid directly on top of the series of heating pipes before described, and by an inspection of Figs. 1 and 5, it will be seen that the major portions of the pipes 13 occupy positions directly beneath the grassed surface of the field within the diamond. The heat from the heating and drying-out series of pipes would ordinarily tend to kill or destroy the grass of the required grass covered portions of the diamond, but the arrangement just described insures sulficient moisture to the grass and prevents the same from being affected by the heat radiated or diffused from the heating and drying series of pipes. Also communicating with said source of steam supply is a heating main 15 extending into the diamond to a point closely adjacent first base, and connected to said main and extending laterally therefrom toward home-plate, beneath the path between home-plate and first-base, is a series of parallel heating pipes 16, preferably laid or arranged directly on top of the corresponding parts of said water supply pipes 13, as shown in Fig. 5. The outer ends of these pipes 16 are preferably connected to a suitable circulating pipe 17, preferably provided at its ends with suitable air outlet valves 17a.

Extending from the inner end of pipe 15 along approximately the inside of the path between home-plate and first-base to a point to the rear of home-plate, is a branch supply pipe 18; and connected to this pipe 18 at a point preferably just inside the dian'iond from home-plate, is a branch pipe 19 which extends along the inner edge of the path from home-plate to third-base. And extending laterally from the end of pipe 18 beneath the skinned portion of the diamond to the rear of home-plate, is a series of short heating pipes 20 connected at their outer ends to a circulating pipe 21. And leading from said branch pipe 19 outwardly beneath the path from home-plate to thirdbase, is a series of short heating pipes 22 connected at their outer ends to a circulating pipe 23. The outer ends of pipes 21 and 23 are preferably connected or united at a point to the rear of home-plate and preferably provided with a suitable air out- `let valve 23a.

Connected to the pipes 18 and 19 immediately in front of home-plate and extending beneath the skinned portion of the diamond from the home-plate to the pitchers box, is a series of heating pipes 24 connected at their outer ends to a circulating pipe 25 preferably provided at one end with an air outlet valve 25a. These pipes 24 are preferably laid directly upon the correspending portions of said water pipes 13, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. Now when it is desired to dry-out the surface of the diamond, steam is first admitted from said source of supply into said mains 2, 8, and 15, the steam then readily circulating through the various series of heating pipes 3, 6, 9, 1G, 20, 22, and 24C, which, as before described, are located directly beneath the skinned portions of the diamond and playing field, and as these various series of pipes are arranged preferably upon a bed of refractory material, practically all of the heat from the steam within said pipes is radiated, defiected, and diffused upwardly through the ground having the skinned surface. Thus the moisture therein will be rapidly absorbed or evaporated, with the result that the surface of the ground will be more or less rapidly dried out and made fit for playing. The circulating pipes 4, 7, 10, 17, 21, 23, and 25 connecting the ends of said various sets or series of heating pipes permit the steam or other fluid heating-medium to readily circulate through all the pipes, and the air normally within said pipes is forced out by the steam and escapes through said various air outlet valves, which valves may lead into or communicate with a suitable vent pipe or pipes (not shown) leading to the surface of the ground, as will be well understood. For these air outlet valves I prefer to use any well-known forni of valve adapted to be normally open to permit the egress or escape of air and to close under low steam pressure. It might also be noted that the several mains, branch pipes, and sets or series of heating pipes may be properly or suitably arranged so that any water of condensation will drain back into the boiler or other suitable place of discharge.

The necessary or required amount of moisture for the grass covered portion of the diamond, in order that such grass may thrive and not be injured or affected by the heat radiated from the heating pipes, is readily obtained by admitting water through the main water pipe 11, and as the water fills the porous pipes 13, it will percolate through the walls thereof and be absorbed and taken up by the earth immediately around and above said pipes. These pipes 13 with their pipe 12 are also properly arranged, so that the water will freely fiow or drain therethrough into said pipe 14e, the water afterward discharging from the pipe 14C into a sewer or other suitable place of discharge on the opening of a suitable outlet valve 26 arranged or provided in said pipe 14. As the portion of the diamond or infield to the rear of home-plate and firstbase and above the lower or outer ends of said pipes 13 is devoid of grass or skinned, the lower or outer ends of these pipes 13 are preferably glazed or otherwise prepared to prevent the water percolating therethrough. It might be further noted that said pipes 13 are substantially throughout their length glazed or otherwise suitably prepared on their under half to prevent water percolating therethrough. By this arrangement the moisture evaporated therefrom when the heating pipes are in operation will loe driven upwardly through the ground or earth thereabove, and by this arrangement also the water seeping through the ground after a rain fall will percolate into said pipes 13 and be drained therethrough into said discharge pipe 14 and thence into said sewer or other place of discharge, said valve 26 being opened to permit such flow. After such rain, and when it is desired to dry out the field, the series of heating pipes are put into operation to drive out the excessive moisture in the ground, the valve 26 being closed and pipes 13 being flooded only when the surface of the diamond and infield have become dry and hard.

The heat-distributing pipes of the various series 3, 6, 9, 16, 20, 22, and 24 may be suitably spaced apart as desired, and likewise the water-distributing pipes 13 may be also spaced apart so as to secure the best results in practice; in actual practice, I prefer to arrange the several pipes of series 9 farther apart than are the several pipes of the remaining heating series. While it is possible and within the scope of my invention to arrange but one series of heating pipes under the surface of the diamond and infield instead of the several series of heating pipes as l have herein shown and described, yet as the distance between the respective bases is comparatively large (90 feet), it is somewhat difiicult to uniformly heat pipes of such length, and for this reason I prefer to use the several sets or series of heating pipes as shown.

By the use of my improved drying-out system on baseball fields and the like, the diamond and the infield thereof may be easily and quickly dried out and put into good playing condition in a comparatively short period of time, thus obviating the necessity of postponing scheduled games by reason of wet grounds after a rain-fall, and that, at the same time, the grass on the grassed portion thereof will in no way be affected or injured.

My new system may be easily installed, may be maintained and operated at comparatively light expense, and after installation requires very little attention and will not readily get out of good working order or condition. And it will loe understood that minor changes in the size, form, arrangement, and combination of the various parts comprised in my new system may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a system for drying out the surface of athletic fields, a series of ground-heating pipes arranged a short distance below the surface of the field and adapted to receive a fluid-heating-medium, and a bed of refractory material located immediately below said pipes; substantially as described.

2. In a system for drying out the surface of athletic fields, a series of mains adapted to convey a fiuid heating-medium, a series of ground-heating pipes connected to and leading from each of said mains, all of said pipes being located a short distance below the surface of the ground, and a bed of refractory material immediately below said heating pipes; subst-antially as described.

3. In a system for drying-out the surface of athletic fields, a series of mains adapted to receive a fiuid heating-medium, a series of ground-heating pipes connected to and leading` from each of said mains, a series of circulating pipes connected to said series of heating pipes, and air outlet valves arranged at suitable points on said circulating pipes, all said pipes being located a short distance below the surface of the ground; substantially as described.

4. In a system for drying out the surface of athletic fields, a series of mains adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, a. series of ground-heating pipes connected to and leading from each of said mains, a series of circulating pipes connected to said series of heating pipes, air outlet valves arranged at suitable points on said circulating pipes, all said pipes being located a short distance below the surface of the ground, and a bed of refractory material immediately below said heating pipes; substantially as described.

5. In a drying-out system for the surface of an athletic field, a series of ground-heating pipes arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of said field, and a series of water-distributing pipes located above said heating pipes and extending beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the field; substantially as described.

6. In a drying-out system for the surface.

of an athletic field, a series of ground-heating pipes arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of said field, a series of waterdistributing pipes located above said heating pipes and extending beneath predetermined portions of the surface of said field, means for supplying said heating pipes with a fluid heating medium, and means for supplying said water-distributing pipes with water substantially as described.

7. A drying-out system for the surface of an athletic field comprising a series of heatdistributing pipes and a series of water-distributing pipes, all of said pipes being located a short distance below the surface of the field; substantially as described.

A drying-out system for the surface of an athletic eld comprising a series of heatdistributing pipes, a series of water-distributing pipes, all of said pipes being located a short distance below the surface of the field, and a bed of refractory material beneath said pipes; substantially as described.

9. A drying-out system for the surface of an athletic field comprising a series of heatdistributing pipes, a series of water-distributing pipes arranged above said heat-distributing pipes and extending cross-wise thereof, all of said pipes being located a short distance below the surface of the field, and a bed of refractory material beneath said pipes; substantially as described.

l0. A drying-out system for the surface of an athletic field comprising a series of mains adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, branch pipes leading from each of said mains, a series of heating-pipes leading from each of said branch pipes, all of said pipes being located beneath the surface of the field, and a bed of refractory material beneath said pipes; substantially as described.

11. A drying-out system for the surface of an athletic field comprising a series of mains adapted to receive a fluid heatingmedium, branch pipes leading from each of said mains, a series of heating-pipes leading from each of said branch pipes, a series of circulating pipes connected to said series of heating pipes, all ofsaid pipes being located beneath the surface of the field, and a bed of refractory material beneath said pipes; substantially as described.

l2. A drying-out system for the surface of an athletic field having portions of its s urface skinned or devoid of grass comprising a series of heating -pipes located in the ground of said field beneath said skinned portions thereof and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, and a series of waterdistributing pipes located immediately above said heating pipes and beneath predetermined portions of the surface of said field; substantially as described.

13. A drying-out system for the surface of an athletic field having portions of its surface skinned or devoid of grass comprising a series of heating pipes located in the ground of said field beneath said skinned portions thereof and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, a series of waterdistributing pipes located immediately above said heating pipes and beneath predetermined portions of the surface of said field and extending crosswise of said heating pipes, and a bed of refractory material beneath said pipes; substantially as described.

14h A drying-out system for the surface of an athletic field having portions of its surface skinned or devoid of grass comprising a series of heating pipes located in the ground of said field beneath the said skinned portions thereof and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, a series of water-distributing `pipes located immediately above said heating pipes and beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the field, and a bed of refractory material beneath said heating pipes; substantially as described.

15. In a system for drying-out the surface of an athletic field, the combination with a series of pipes arranged beneath predeter-l mined portions of the surface of the field and adapted to receive a fluid heating-inedium, of m'eans beneath said pipe for deflecting the heat therefrom upwardly through the earth overlying said pipes; substantially as described.

16. In a system for drying-out the surface of an athletic field, a series of ground-heating pipes arranged beneath the surface of the field and adapted to receive a fiuid heating-medium, and a series of porous waterconveying pipes arranged above said heating pipes; substantially as described.

17. In a system for drying-out the surface of an athletic field, a series of ground-heating-pipes arranged beneath predetermined port-ions of the surface of the field and adapted to receive a fluid lieating-medium, a series of Water-distributing pipes overlying said heating pipes and arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the lield, and a second series of heating pipes overlying said water-distributing pipes and arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the field; substantially as described.

18. In a system for drying-out the surface of an athletic field, a series of ground-heating pipes arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the field and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, a series of water-distributing pipes overlying said heating pipes and arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the field, a second series of heating pipes overlying said water-distributing pipes and arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the field, and means beneath said first series of heating-pipes for deflecting the heat therefrom upwardly through the adjacent ground; substantially as described.

19. In a system for drying out the surface of an athletic field, a series of ground-heating pipes arranged beneath predetermined portions of the field, and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, a series of waterdistributing pipes overlying said heatingpipes and arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the field, a second sei'ies of ground-heating pipes overlying said water-distributing pipes and arranged beneath predetermined portions of the surface of the field, and a bed of refractory material beneath said first-mentioned series of heating-pipes; substantially as described.

20. 1n a drying-out system of the class described, the combination with a bed of refractory material located beneath the surface of the ground, of a plurality of sets of pipes arranged on said bed and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium; substantially as described..

2l. In a drying-out system of the class described, the combination with a bed of refractory material located beneath the surface of the ground, a series of headers positioned on said bed and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, and a series of distributing pipes leading from each of said headers; substantially as described.

22. In a drying-out system of the class described, the combination with a bed of refractory material located beneath the surface of the ground, a series of headers positioned on said bed and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, a series of distributing pipes leading from each of said headers, and a circulating pipe connect-ing the ends of each series of heat-distributing pipes; substantially as described.

23. In a drying-out system of the class described, the combination with a bed of refractory material located beneath the surface of the ground, a series of headers positioned on said bed and adapted to receive a fluid heating-medium, a series of distributing pipes leading from each of said headers, a circulating pipe connecting the ends of each series of heat-distributing pipes, and air outlet valves connected to said circulating pipes; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR M. BRANCH.

Witnesses: l

O. H. BRooiis, Jr., F. DRAYBURN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of atents, Washington, D. C. 

